A minimalist R&B gem, Meagan De Lima’s “Queen” is a sophisticated triumph. An ode to her heritage, culture, and matriarch, “Queen” pays homage to the woman who raised her to become one of Toronto’s most exciting new R&B acts. The song is a garden of simple, beat-driven melodies that delicately blossom under her velvety vocal instrument. Despite its barebones production, Meagan’s lyrical prose is captivating, demanding, and honest. A blissful ballad and bow to her mother, “Queen” inspires the daughter in all of us.
CADMIUM & ROBBIE ROSEN - TRAGEDY
Music, Original MixCommentCadmium and singer/songwriter Robbie Rosen just teamed up to unveil their emotional dance-pop cut “Tragedy.” A blissful balance between euphoric synths and catchy vocal rhythms, the collaborative effort is an instant summer classic. The song’s upbeat melodies swing in a uniform direction, driving the track forward with a seamless flow. A righteous juxtaposition between sound and soul, “Tragedy” is a yin and yang of hopeful instrumentation and poetry born from pain.
NØLL - AFTERLIFE
Music, Original MixCommentnøll has been anything but empty lately, back after a successful start to the year filled with single “i…” and an acoustic version/remix EP of “Save My Life,” the LA-based based producer returns with a dynamic bass/bedroom pop combo. “Afterlife” displays nøll at his best and gears listeners up for his forthcoming Afterlife EP. A modern soundscape characterized by gritty bass and strong vocal tonality, nøll’s latest single is euphoric and stretches the boundaries of his creative ability. The track's use of distortion satisfies the ear as it brings you into its world creating an enchantingly smooth offering. Displaying growing confidence in his sound, “Afterlife” speaks to the young producer's experience in a way like no other. Aligned with his strides of consistent creative growth, this single not only perfectly fits the discography he is known for but builds upon it.
SPOR - THROW DOWN LET GO
Music, Original MixCommentA prolific drum & bass artist with a project dating back to the early 2000s, Spor is known for his cutting-edge approach to sound design. The multi-hyphenate cut his teeth on early production software as a teenager in his family home, learning the ins-and-outs of organic and synthetic sound. Inspired by the sounds of Pink Floyd, Yes, Radiohead, and Squarepusher, his fascination with electronic instrumentation grew from a young age, and at 18-years-old, Spor was born. Having stepped away from his drum & bass alias for two years to focus on Feed Me, Spor’s ultimate return to the spotlight came earlier in April with “Let Me Be,” a cerebral work of high-octane sound design. “Let Me Be” garnered high praise from tastemakers including UKF, Your EDM, DJ LIFE, and countless others. Now, the creative continues to journey through his forthcoming Cave EP, delivering his sweltering, vocal-driven “Throw Down Let Go.”
CRAZE - STUCK ON YOU (FEAT. PALMER REED)
Music, Original MixCommentAt the intersection of DnB and melodic hip-hop comes Craze’s new single “Stuck on You.” Enlisting a refreshing feature from vocalist and songwriter Palmer Reed, the collaborative effort is a fascinating showcase of artistic synergy. Experimenting with the unsuspecting relationship between electronic music and hip-hop, Craze and Palmer Reed make the challenge sound effortless on “Stuck on You.” Mellow breakbeats flow under Reed’s buttery vocal delivery to create a blissful dichotomy of sound and spirit. Sophisticated and markedly inspired “Stuck on You” is not one to miss. Listen today.
ALMOST SEX - WE'RE OKAY
Music, Original MixCommentEqual parts artistic collaborators and romantic partners, Nick Louis and Warren LaSota are almost sex. Familiar and novel to boot, the Brooklyn-based tandem distills the sounds of indie-pop with lo-fi Americana on their darling new EP We’re Okay. The cozy extended play moves through touching ballads and guitar-driven lullabies while poetic lyrics move gracefully throughout. An insightful and meaningful body of work, We’re Okay is more than sound. Instead, We’re Okay is a reflection of the pair’s poignant connection and shared commitment to bettering themselves and the alternative musical landscape as a whole. Speaking on the EP almost sex says, “The process of writing and recording this EP involved us stripping things back a bit to consolidate the core elements that made up our sound. Our drummer had been away for work for most of the year, so we began performing shows with an analog drum machine from 1979. We decided to take it into the studio with us and it ended up becoming the principal instrument featured on most of these tracks. Much of the lyrical content of the project centers around themes of getting older in an increasingly frightening and hyper-commodified world.”
GUNFIGHT - BREAKNECK SPEED
Music, Original MixCommentBass maestro GunFight is clearly on fire this year, not letting any time go to waste while unleashing one banger after the other. Following his ruthless dubstep anthem “Breached,” which has already amassed over 50k streams on Spotify since its release, the LA-based producer has now returned with one of his most forward-thinking releases to date, exploring a new style on “Breakneck Speed.”
Venturing into unknown sonic grounds is something GunFight is no stranger to, with “Breakneck Speed” masterfully showcasing his continuous desire to experiment and evolve as an artist. Bringing together bass house and eurodance vibes – while being laced with GunFight’s usual cinematic ambiances and sonics – “Breakneck ” is a true dancefloor gem, and a single that is bound to resonate with GunFight’s ever-growing fanbase.
RIP KENNY - THOUGHT I KNEW YOU
Music, Original MixCommentAt the heels of “Letting Go” and “Lost,” RIP Kenny returns with “Thought I Knew You” – the third single to his debut album Escapism. One of dubstep’s most compelling new voices, RIP Kenny’s grit and intensity is poignant. The mundane is not a survivable concept for this up-and-coming artist – from pushing boundaries in the backcountry to breaking down genre barriers, RIP Kenny knows that the best art is born when you find your own line. His unusual, yet refreshing take on the dubstep genre taps into spaces unknown as he injects heavy electronic drops with metal cadences and punk-rock finishes. A more rock-centric cut than its predecessors, “Thought I Knew You” is a cinematic triumph that blossoms with guttural electric guitars, steely vocals, and twitches of dubstep breaks before its final sweeping crescendo. Told from his perspective, each track taken from Escapism is a story of life, leisure, love, and loss in the majestic and unforgiving Oregon mountainscapes. A wordsmith and conceptual soundbender, RIP Kenny is ushering in the new vanguard of dubstep and metal.
RN ISMO - ALL I CAN BE
Music, Original MixCommentInspired by Detroit’s influential underground dance scene, RN ISMO brings cutting-edge house music to the forefront of his 4-track EP All I Can Be. Teeming with the timeless sounds of retro dance floors, All I Can Be is at once nostalgic and primed to set the standard for the future of club music. The EP flows seamlessly from one track to the next while staying tethered to its familiar, thumping beat. Shifting between minimalism and intricate musical complexions, the short and sweet extended play is a sophisticated ode to the archetype of the underground.
